Belfast singer Bap Kennedy, who has been in a hospice for a month with cancer, last night vowed to make the most of his "precious time and energy".

The 54-year-old former Energy Orchard frontman was too weak to personally write an online blog he set up to let fans know about his serious illness.

However, in an emotional message recorded and transcribed by his wife Brenda, he said: "I'm very tired all the time & I want to make the most of precious time and energy. Today I have the energy to make this conversation happen. On a typical day I wouldn't. Which kind of tells you where I'm at.

"That's all for now."

The singer was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and had been due to perform at a festival in Co Mayo on May 7 but instead had to be taken by Brenda to the Ulster Hospital suffering from severe stomach pains.

Bap's specially recorded message for fans said: "I just want to thank everyone for their support.

"It's hard to explain, but for years it seemed like I was in the wilderness.

"I felt like I was making records for a very small audience of like-minded people who were getting what I was doing. But now it seems the music has reached far more people than I realised.

"I'm always surprised to find out that people care so much.

"It gives me another reason to keep going."

He said he was not very sure what the future holds but has been in a Marie Curie hospice for a month and is being treated very well by the staff.

Brenda added: "Bap's symptoms are proving complex and hard to manage.

"In reality he is dealing with an extremely difficult situation with great grace & courage & I am immensely proud of him for that. He had been hoping to post another blog soon, but he's been feeling very unwell recently.

"He wants to keep in touch with all the people who have been so supportive."